Banditry: I don’t have control of security in Zamfara – Gov Lawal

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has lamented over his inability to control the security architecture in the state.

Lawal said he has no control over heads of security agencies in the state, stressing that they take directives from their superiors.

Speaking during a town hall meeting to mark Nigeria’s 25th Democracy Day in Abuja on Wednesday, the governor decried the activities of bandits in the state.

According to Lawal: “By name, I am the chief security officer of my state but when it comes to command and control, I don’t have control over any of the security outfit whether the military, the police or civil defence.

“They take their instructions from their superiors not from the governors. We don’t have that control, I wish we do have, it would have been a different story.”

He said the security situation in the state has not improved owing to what he described as political interference.

According to the governor, the security agencies have all it takes to crush criminal elements across the country, if they have the political will.